21 charm baskets were completed this week. I'm enjoying the slow stitching process for sure.

21 charm baskets were completed this week. I'm enjoying the slow stitching process for sure.
This week I made two more Dicey blocks.
As I talked about yesterday, the prep work that goes into an applique project is vital for keeping the project moving. Below is a photo of the fun tools I have been using for making my circles for applique.
In the photo are two sets of the Applipops for the size of circle I am making. One set is on the keeper ring, and one set is still on the fabric circle. I am glad that I bought the larger "pro" set because I can make one while the other is cooling after it has been pressed with the iron. The set was a little pricey, but the circles made are very, very nice. I'm still practicing.
The other metal notion is a trolley needle. I use it to push down starched fabric edges on the back so that I do not have to touch the iron. The metal rings get a little warm. I never heard of a trolley needle until I started watching applique videos. It works like a stiletto on your finger. I have a feeling I will eventually use it while chain piecing certain blocks for another project where I usually use my stitch ripper to push down fabric seams that meet.
I have my starch and water 50/50 mixture using Sta-Flo concentrated starch. The paint brush used to apply the starch (and the trolley needle) fit perfectly in the pen cap taped to the plastic vitamin bottle of the starch mixture for safe keeping.
The little plastic box is from a deck of flash cards repurposed to keep the fabric circles flat after they are made.
Of course my iron is a big part of it. I love the wool pressing mat that I purchased during Covid.
All of my blue sets of circles are now ready for nightly sewing in my chair for watching tv. I'll be using these for my Dicey quilt blocks.
The set does not have as many size options as Perfect Circles by Karen Kay Buckley. It loooks like her set has many more size options. I believe her method requires basting. The Applipop method does not require basting. I know many of my bloggy friends that do circles use the Perfect Circles method.
I am getting so efficient at my applique systems that blocks are going much quicker than I imagined. I take time each week to prep what I need so that my sew-to-go bag isn't empty in time of need.
This week I Accuquilt cut and sewed chisel blocks together to make blocks for my Dicey quilt.
My basket of completed handles was getting full. I completed 18 more baskets this week. These blocks are multiplying faster than I ever thought that they would. They are not perfect, but they are super fun.
You can read why I started this quilt here.
Here's a Dicey block in aqua blue. I didn't have many darker blues on hand in the house. I'll grab some from the quilt room in the other house this week.
You can read why I started this quilt here.
These sub assemblies for the Old Town mystery are now complete. Woohoo! It's time to start assembling blocks.
I made more Dicey blocks this week.
We had two snow days in a row. I continue to work on Old Town sub assemblies. For some reason I am very distracted with my husband and son home as well. Oh well... family time. :)
I did make enough blocks to clear out this bin. I needed a larger bin to store all of my Charm Baskets that are being made quicker than I anticipated.
Eleven more charm baskets are done!
Of course I started a new project...
More snow expected to fall here in Ohio. Snow Day = Sew Day for me. My desk area is a hot mess: